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Done with the exams - - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

Cheerkut


Finally its over .

Overall the exam was a mixed bag.
Quite similar to NBME.

however there were few differences

Qs stem were a lot lengthier.....if this is supposed to tire u...i did tire out in the last few blocks.

Often the lengthier questions were the simplest ....

Many options ...one question had upto N (15) !!most were HUMBUG!

subject wise .

Pathology ...is the core ...may be 70 % in my portal
pathophysiology was stressed rather than knowing the diagnosis!

The diagnosis was often mentioned..they wanted How?
What?
Why?

Pharmacology was direct ....MOA...very little though
microbiology ....stress on diarrheas(bact/viral)

Biochemistry ...tricky about 5 questions per block.
I think konowing the enzymes and cycles inside- out is a must.

immunology ....not much ..surprisingly! Ithought this was

nemesis for most.

Biostats and behavioural ....not in depth...ratios/risks/mean/modeetc
behavioural and psy were manageable.

NOTHING OF EMBRYOLOGY/ 2 questions in ANATOMY in the whole exam...

Many graphs .... some really tested the concepts .

MRI/CT often with pathophysiology...so these were simplified.

Pictures/photographs are ...DISTRACTORS...thats what i found ....since the question really demanded something different from what the picture /Photo showed.

Very much doable exam ...i finished all blocks about 15-20 mins before time and could review the answers later.

Hope i do well.

thanks everyone for the good vibes ,should see u all soon in the step2 forum.
thankyou.

good luck to all those who are to give the exams ..

GOD BLESS.


0 - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

farhana

Good Luck to you too.!!!.....Good memory ....I should say.......
Congrats in advance!

0 - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

hehadoc

well done. i think i couldn´t do the exam so quickly, but your explanation about the content is consistent with other people have said.
congratulations. i hope you will get a very good score

0 - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

Karan


Hey Cheerkut:

Hope ur having a blast..!!

Can u give us an overview of ur studying methods, books, etc...

I am using the kaplan home study book - step 1 review. Will
start wil FA + Q bank soon...!!

Did u use kaplan books...

Thanks


0 - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

Cheerkut


I studied from kaplan notes.....I found it better to restrict my reading from a few Complete books . THIS HELPS IN REVISION ....F.A is GOOD enough ...u may add on things S.O.S

downloaded some goljan notes (valuemd.com)..pretty nice stuff
did USMLEASY.com quite early ...(3 months before )
did kaplan Qbank... it grinds u through all that is required.

NBME is very close to what u could be expecting save it for the last month /3 weeks.





0 - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

Karan

Hey Cheerkut:

Thanks for ur reply..

Did u attend the kaplan live lectures or did u just use the live lecture notes (7 books)...

What did u think about the home study books (2 books)...

I bought the live lec. notes from a friend but i'm frustrated reading them without attending the lecs. or listening to the audios.

Another friend of mine gave me the home study - step 1 review books. These are better to read i feel..

Do u have any idea about these..?

Thanks




0 - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

Karan



And besides i finished med. school in 1998. So it's been a while....Taking the exam in nov...Started studying like 2 weeks ago..I have a full time job. Mon- fri 8-5


0 - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

hehadoc

what about biochem/genetics questions?
did you have trouble in answering these?

0 - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

Cheerkut


Karan,
i have no idea about live web prep. i studied from the 7 books only. with anecdotes from varied sources.

Practising questions is THE thing ...TRy your hand on AS MANY AS POSSIBLE .

U being a full timer....give urself sufficient time >= 3months to get the hang of the exams .

I too graduated in 98' its also about recall..more the better

Hehadoc.
Genetics.. was along the lines of Q bank.
all Qs look for the concept.rather than
content.
PCR sequences , P53 ,oncogenes are HOT
i wud say.
Biochem.... as i said ...don,t just know them ..link them
u wud then answer most of the questions.

0 - ArchivalUser - 08-04-2004

hehadoc

thanks cheerkut